Letter printing and addressing machine



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E. F. 'GREER LETTER PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June 16.

Nov. 24 1925.-

Nov. 24 1925- E. F. GREER LETTER PRINTING AND ;ADDRESS1NG MACHINE Filed June 16. 1924 G SheetS-Sheet 2 Nov. 24, 1925- 1,562,697

E. F. GREER LETTER PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed June 16. 1924 6 Sheets-Shet 5 w mw N EW 0 I l N lib o o 6 Nov. 24, 1925- E. F. GREER LETTER PRINTING AND ADDRESSING momma Filed June 16. 1924 QM W W v V il-[mm In MN lllll-ll l I I l l I I I l I l l l l l l l I 1 o Wk NM E. F. GREER LETTER PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1925 Filed June 16. 1924 6 Sheets-Sht 5 E. F. GREER LETTER PRINTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1925- 1,562,697

Filed June 16. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 gwvantoz 64101 new Patented Nov. '24, 1,925

EDGAR I'. GI REEB, MEMPHIS, TENNES SEE.

ma rnnv'rmo AND, nnbnnssmo uncnmn.

' Application fled Inne16, 1934.] serial no. 720383.

To all whom it may concern. 4

Be it known that I, EDGAR F. GREEK, a citizen of the vUnited States, residin Memphis, in the county of Shelby and tate of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter Printin and Addressing Machines, of which the 5 ing is a specification.

The invention provides a machine designed specifically for printing form letters and impressing on each letter the name, address, salutation and the like of the person,

firm or other party for whom the letter is F1gure 10; as seen from the bottom side, the

seating ribbon'being broken away;

intended, thereby giving character and individuality to the communication which is- .efiective in correspondence and desirable.-

A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a machine which may be util- 1 mod for addressing, the envelopes designed to receive the letters the same type being used for addressing both the letters and-the envelopes, mechanism being provided to "bodying the invention;

- tiona view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

transfer the type from the form letter printer, to the envelope address printer of the machine.

A further purpose of the invention'is to provide a machine in which the operating parts are compactl arranged, posit ve 1n action and not liab e tov derangement, and

which is adapted to be easily operated and maintained in working condition as the parts are so disposed as to admit of ready access thereto for adjustment, oiling, 1'cplacement and the like.

\Vhile the drawings hereto attached illustrate a practical embodiment of the in -vention, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet difi'erent requirements and cond tions, various changes 1n the details, form, construction and the arrangement of parts may be resorted to within;

1a dr1ve belt not-shown,

the scope of the appended claims without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification Figure 1 is a top plan view of a form letter printing and addressing machine em-' Figure 2 is a front view thereof; Fi ure 3 is a vertical longitudinal secshowing the parts on a larger scale; Fi ure the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

F gure 5 is averti 'a line 6-6 of Figure 1;

low-i 'ings by like reference characters.

the one in advance of" 4 is an enlarged sectional view on:

transverse sectional view onthe line5-5 of Figure 1, showing the parts, one larger scale; I

Figure 6 is a detail sebtional view on the Fi ure 7 is a detail sectional view on'thc line 7 of Fi re 1;

shown in Figure 7; 'Figure'9 1s an enlar ed detail sectional view onthe line 9-9 0 Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of the form letter printing mechanism;

- Figure 11 is a view of the partsshown in for t e addressprinting type artly in secadpart of the. ress print- Figure 8 is a etail planviewofithe parts tion, the .same' bemg'taken on t e line l t-1 1 I of Figure 5; and

. Figure 15 .is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 15-45 of Figure 1.

Corresponding and like parts 'are re ferred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the draw- The machine embodies a suitable framework including a sup orting structure 20 and a table 21 moun thereon and receiving the operatingparts. 'Walking beams levers, or arms 22 and 23 are pivoted to uprights 24 and the inner end of each .is connected by means of 'a strap to an eccentric 26 'fast to a shaft 27 v pitman 25 and which is mounted in suitable bearings and provided with a band pulley '28 to receive 9 from a suitable source by. means" of.

power in a manner well understood. The walking beams 22'j'and 23 and are arranged the other and each; is provided at its outer end with a printing mechanism. Thefpri'nting mechanism attached to the outer end ofthe walking beam 22 is such as'to print the form letter and address. he prmtingmechanism' at the outer endf the walking beam '23 issuch as to address the envelopes rovided for receivr' are oppositely disposed the form letters and iiioth address printing mechanisms are "substantially the same as shown most clearly 12-ind1i,

each consisting of a rotary holder 29 provided with a plurality of type receivlng pockets 30 grou ed about the axis of the older, said poo ets being open throughout their length to admit of the type en'- tering atone end and leaving at the opposite end. Springs 31 let into recesses at one side of the pockets 30 operate-to prevent displacement of the type 32 while at the same time admitting of the type hav- 7 ing a 1011 itudinal movement throughout the length 0 the pockets. These type holders are mounted toxreceive an intermittent rotary. movement whereby the types are successively brought into position for printing. A ratchet wheel 33 fast to one end of the holder '29 is adapted to co-act with a stub 34 whereby to effect a rotary movement of the holder. The stub 34 is fixed and the holder 29 being movable with *the walking beam itfollows that the holder is rotated by an intermittent movement in the operation of the walking beam. v

A track 35 at the front of the machine 00- ikoperates with the form letter printer and address printer, and a similar track 36 at the rear of the machine co-ac-ts with the address printer for the envelopes, and the printing type may be inked. In any preferred way. The type 37 for printing the form letter is carried by a chase or holder 38 attached to the forward end of the walking beam 22 and the holder receiving the type 39 for'printing the address on the form letter is carried by the walking beam 22, both sets of type being inked by means of a ribbon 40 which is adapted to be wound upon a roller 41 at each side ofthe type holder 38. The inking ribbon 40 is unwound from one of the rollers 41 and wound upon the companion roller. by an intermittent m-ovementwhich is effected bymeansof a ratchet wheel 42 secured to the shaft of each of the rollers, Figure 11, and adapted to co-act with a dog 43, Figure 15, at-

tached to the table 21. Only one' of the dogs 43 is inactive operation at a time, the same being adjustable to admit of one {being thrown into active position and the other out of action. Tracks 44 and 45 are provided at one side of the machine to receive and supportgalleys 46 which are movable thereon, and these galleys are open at one end for the ready ingress and. egress of the address type or slugs 32. Each of the galleys 46 'is provided in its bottom with a longitudinal slot to receive a chain 47 which operates to move the slugs or type 32 through the galleys. A Q plunger 48 is adapted to operate across the open endofthe galley and'deliver the t e or slug in position to be advanced. e plunger 48 Is in line witha guideway 49 through which the slu or. type 32 are 65 move on their way to e holder comprising the address printer. The guideway 49 is m line with the pocket of the type holder in position to receive the t pc or slug. The type holder 29 is adapts to be rotated a distance at each movement to bring the pockets thereof in position to receive the type or slugs from the guideway 49 and also to bring the type in position to print the address onthe letter sheet simultaneously with the printing of the form letter.

A lever 50 pivoted at one end has its opposite end connected to the rod'of the plunger 48.- A flexible connection 52 attached at one end to the lever 50 is connected at its opposite .end to an arm of a bell. crank 53 mounted upon a bracket 54 and the other arm of the bell crank 53 is disposed in. the path of an arm 54 depending fromxthe walking beam 22 so as to be actuated thereby at each movement of the walking beam. A helical spring 55 serves to retain the plunger 48 in normal position.

y A guideway 56 is provided at the opposite s1de o'r slugs 32 after being used to print the address on the form letters. A lateral guideway 57 in line with the guideway 49 and at the opposite side of the address printer receives the type or slugs as they are discharged from the type holder and (ii rects them to the guideways 56 through which they are caused to travel by means of an intermittently operated plunger 58.

of the 11130111116130 receive the type A lever 59.pivoted at its lower end to the table-'21 is connected at its upper end to an arm of a bell crank 60, the other arm of said bell crank being connected to the plunger 58. An eccentric 61- fast to a shaft 62 coacts with the lever 59 to impart an oscillatory movement thereto whereby the plunger 58 is reciprocated so as to advance the address type or slugs through the guideway 56. The shaft 62 is geared to a shaft 63 to which is secured a ratchet wheel 6 which is intermittently rotated by means f a dog 65 attached to the Walking beam 22. The

referred to as advancing the address type or slugs through the galleys 46. A crank wheel .68 fast to the shaft 63 operates a flexible connection 69 which is connected to a plunger 70 whereby to move the address type or slugs 32 along the galley placed in position to receive said slugs from aguideway 71 provided to receive the slugs from the type holder of the envelope address printer.

A lateral guideway 72 is in line with the gilndeway 71 and receives the slugs 32 from t e guideway 56 and delivers them to. the envelopeaddresser.

A plunger 73 similar to the plun ger 48 delivers the slugs 32 from the guideway 56 and advances them through shaft 63 is geared to the shaft 66 to which the guideway 52 so as to feed'the type to V the envelope addresser and to deliver the 7 connection 7 connects the lever 74 With the lever 50 whereby both levers move in unison. A table 76 at the front-of the machine and I at one side of the letter printing mechanism receives the sheet upon which the form letter is -to be prlnted and a suitable feeder such as an endless chain 7 7 moves the sheet from the table 76 to the platen 78 which supports the sheet-during the printing of the on reference to Fig'u form letter and addressthereon. The. aper feeder may be operated in any preerred way and as shown, a crank 79 is provided and is operable by hand. A table ;80 at the rear of the machine receives and supports theenvelopes during the printing of the address thereon, and in the operation of the machine, two attendants are required the ,one to manage the printingvand addressin of the form letters and theiother to loo after the printing of the address upon the sistof one or more'parts according to the nature of the matter to be printed and these slugs are put in order in trays or galleys from which they are automatically fed" to the printing mechanism and from the latter, returned to'the galleys or trays placed 'inposition for their reception after final use, and the order of the slugs or address type is preserved as will be readily understood re 1 of the drawings. \Vhatis claimed 1s: 1. A letter 'printing machine, a rotary holder for the address printing type, means for imparting an intermittent rotary'movement to the'said holder, and means for feediug'the address printing type to the holder during the intervals between the rotary 1mpulses imparted thereto, e

2. In aJ-letter primting machine, a rotary type holderiassociated with the letter printing form and provided 'with' type receiving 'lpockets which are open throughout their engths, a guideway positioned toalign with ter printing mechanism, an ad The addressing slugs may conf a chine compr1smg .complemental walking beams, means for .im artmg an oscillatory associated with the letter printing ress print;

.to and through the pockets 0 the several type pockets, and means for movmg the addrem printingtype through the gpideways and the ,pockets of the type hbldervin line therewith. v

3. A letter printing machine comprising.

an address type holder associated with the form for printing upon opposite si es of the letter printing form means for moving the address type through one of the holders, other means for feeding the type to the said p'rinting'type holder, and independent-means for moving the used address type through the receiving holder.

4. A printing machine comprising a letress printing mechanism associated with the form for printing the letter, a second printing mechanism for addressing the'enyelo for receivir'ig the letters, means for coding the address plrinting type to the address printing mec anism associated with the.'letter printing form, and independent means for feeding; the said address type to the envethe letter, type holders lope addressing mechanism, theseveral mechanisms being for a cycle of operation. I

5. A letter printing aiid addressing mas movement' to the said beams, an address printing I beams, '-a letter printing and addressing mechanism carried by the other beam, means for intermittentl feeding address printing types to the ad ressing mechanism I form, and other means for feeding the ad ing type to the printing mechanism for .addressing envelopes or wrappers.

6. A printin rotary type ho der provided withv type re-, ceiving pockets on d about the axis-and open th ciated withthe pockets for holding the type therein, and means for feeding ty 'or slugs holdex: I '1 r In testimony whereof. I afiix my slgnature.

r. GREEK.

mechanism carried by one Of the oughout their lengths, means assothe type mechanism comprising a 

